Cherishing Talent

Hong Feng burst into laughter. "Don't refuse so quickly. This is the owner of our Little Grass Dessert Shop. I'm a branch manager under him, and we came to Suotuo City this time to open another branch. In our shop, branch managers earn a monthly salary of 100 Gold Soul Coins, while employees earn 50. But generally speaking, both employees and managers have to be Soul Masters."

"The boss is willing to let you join Little Grass. That's your good fortune. Aren't you really going to consider it? I know a little about how much ordinary jobs outside pay, since I've done them before. There's no way they can compare to us. What couldn't you do with a monthly salary of 50 Gold Soul Coins? Don't you agree? Once you have money, you can go home and tell your family that you've made it. You could even build a road for your village. Once the road is easier to travel, Martial Soul Hall Soul Masters will be willing to go there. Then wouldn't they be able to become Soul Masters?"

"Besides, don't think Little Grass is easy to get into. Our pay is high, so naturally our standards are high too. First of all, we have very high requirements for looks. Look, someone like me." As Hong Feng spoke, he pointed at his own face.

"Our twelve branches in Fasnuo Province are all staffed by handsome men and beautiful women like me. The boss only gave you a chance because you look pretty decent and are almost as good-looking as I am. Our boss simply cherishes talent, you know?"

"Enough, enough." Chen Huang waved his hand. Once Hong Feng got talking, he often could not stop. It was better to cut him off.

He took out a box of business cards from his Storage Soul Tool. He had specially asked someone to make them. In his previous world, such things had a long history; they might have existed as early as the Warring States period, though under a different name. After a long evolution, they had eventually become compact business cards.

The card read: Chen Huang, owner of Little Grass Dessert Shop, followed by the headquarters' address.

He handed the card to Oscar and said with a smile, "This is my business card. If you're interested, come find me in Room 301 of the Lutu Hotel. We're staying there for now. If you want to become a Soul Master, I can help awaken your Martial Soul. Not only that, the benefits at our shop are very good. If you need to obtain Spirit Rings, the shop will handle that too. There's no rush. I'll give you time to think it over slowly. For now, take our order."

After hearing Hong Feng's words, Oscar was utterly shaken. A dessert shop offering monthly salaries of 100 Gold Soul Coins and 50 Gold Soul Coins was unbelievable. If they hired an ordinary person, even one Gold Soul Coin a month would have been enough, and a kind employer might give a little more.

But Chen Huang's words—"I can help awaken your Martial Soul"—struck him like a thunderbolt. It had not struck a forest or an open field, but directly into his heart. In this world, who did not dream of becoming a Soul Master?

Chen Huang picked up the menu and looked through it with Xiao Shan. "The prices are pretty good. Not expensive." They did not even look closely at the dishes. Ordering more than half the menu should be enough to fill them up.

"You order," Chen Huang said to Xiao Shan. He was not picky about food, but Xiao Shan was a little.

"Just order more," Chen Huang added.

"Alright, I understand." Xiao Shan flipped through the menu and removed many dishes containing offal or with strong fishy smells. This was Chen Huang's habit, and she remembered it. Then she chose several main dishes in multiple portions, followed by some vegetables and fruit for after the meal.

Chen Huang watched and nodded. Not bad. At least all these years had not been spent in vain. If they had grown up together for so many years, yet she did not even know what he liked to eat, that would have been truly heartbreaking.

Hong Feng had no say in the matter. He would eat whatever was served.

Oscar wrote everything down exactly as Xiao Shan said it. He still did not understand the seriousness of the situation.

More than an hour later, a thick stack of plates had piled up on the table. Most of the food had gone into Chen Huang's stomach. Yet his stomach looked exactly the same as before.

This digestive and absorptive technique, formed by combining Internal Energy with Life Return, had already become highly refined. This method was also very beneficial for absorbing nutrients from food. However, he was not simply converting them into Soul Power; most of it was transformed into bodily energy.

"I'm about eighty percent full." Chen Huang looked at the pile of plates before him. This was still alright; it was only stacked high, after all. There was still a huge difference between him and those inhuman beings from One Piece. One day, when he could pile the plates high enough to fill the whole table, it would mean his strength had reached a very high level.

Then they paid the bill and walked out of the restaurant.

Chen Huang did not say another word to Oscar. He believed Oscar would come. No one could resist the temptation of becoming a Soul Master.

After leaving the restaurant, Hong Feng secretly looked back at Oscar. "Little boss, are you really planning to recruit that kid?"

"What? Is there a problem?" Chen Huang asked with a smile.

Hong Feng scratched his head. "But didn't you set the rule that we only recruit Soul Masters?"

Chen Huang looked at Hong Feng. "That's right, we only recruit Soul Masters. Won't he become one in the future?"

Hong Feng continued, "But as I recall, all our branch employees and managers are Soul Elders at level thirty. And the employees are at least Soul Grandmasters in their twenties."

Chen Huang smiled. "That's right. I think his talent is quite good. His strength might even surpass yours in the future."

Hong Feng looked utterly unconvinced. "Him? No way. He's already in his teens and has missed the golden age of cultivation. Besides, his Martial Soul hasn't even awakened yet. We don't even know how much Innate Soul Power he has."

Chen Huang patted his shoulder and said earnestly, "Trust me. His Innate Soul Power definitely won't be low. It'll absolutely be higher than yours. What was your Innate Soul Power again?"

Hong Feng answered blankly, "Innate Soul Power level five."

Chen Huang smiled. "Then there's even less comparison to be made."

Hong Feng shook his head. "I don't believe it. Generally speaking, only nobles or disciples from major clans and great sects have Innate Soul Power higher than mine. Mine is already among the best for ordinary people."

Chen Huang said, "You'll know when he comes tonight. Sigh, Xiao Shan and I are going to walk around for a while. Go buy a set of Martial Soul awakening tools."

"Huh?"

"Go quickly. I'll reimburse you when you get back. Here, this is your errand fee." Chen Huang took out a Gold Soul Coin.

"Alright, alright. I'll go."

Hong Feng accepted the Gold Soul Coin. This was payment for his labor, so how could he refuse it? Then he headed off to find a place selling Martial Soul awakening tools. Those things were generally sold in Soul Tool shops.

"Come on, Xiao Shan. Let's check out the food street or snack street. Then we'll take a look at the market too, and investigate where the foot traffic is highest." Chen Huang smiled.

"Alright. But forget about tonight. How about tomorrow? Will you come participate in soul fighting with me?" Xiao Shan asked.

"What made you want to participate in soul fighting?"

"I think those Soul Masters are fairly capable. I want to spar with them." Xiao Shan said, "And I want to enter the two-person soul fighting too. You're coming with me."

"But two-person soul fighting teams are matched according to the person with the higher level. In other words, we'll face two-person teams at the Soul Elder level," Chen Huang said.

"Yeah, so what?"

"My Soul Power is only level nineteen."

"It's fine. What use is Soul Power? As long as you're strong, that's enough. I believe you're definitely stronger than them." Xiao Shan smiled.

P.S.: Brothers, please give me some recommendations. Give me a little motivation to keep moving forward. (_)

2/3.